Dean Forster

Common Pilates Exercise Equipment For Weight Loss

Common pieces of Pilates exercise equipment to improve fitness and achieve weight loss including mats, balls and reformer machine.

Many people have used Pilates for decades including dancers and athletes, who use it to build strength and flexibility to prevent injury. Several stars in the spot light use it to maintain beautiful, slender, toned bodies. Pilates, unlike other fad exercise programs, is a sensible exercise system using only a mat or a few pieces of simple Pilates exercise equipment such as a ball or machine. Anyone, no matter your age or if you are at beginning or advanced physical condition, can use Pilates to improve fitness levels, tone abs, or achieve weight loss.

Winsor Pilates method typically uses a machine called the Pilates reformer. The reformer machine provides a total-body workout by working every muscle group with 32 different exercises. Unlike other fitness equipment that may require a whole room for storage, the Reformer folds up to for easy storage under a bed while you are not using it. There are several types of reformers, but a really good one will give you several levels of resistance. In Winsor Pilates you can expect 4 or 5 different levels, which will mean that as you advance, you will have to increase the resistance.

Pilates balls come in a variety of forms. The ball is a simple way of providing a low impact workout. More advanced balls are usually 22 inches around with tubing that can be adjusted and rings. Basically, Pilates balls provide the resistance to give both your abs and upper body a good workout. Of course the round ball is always trying to roll out from under you, which provides the challenge of a whole workout with this piece of equipment. To keep the ball under control, the legs, abdomen and chest muscles all have to work hard to keep it stable. That may sound simple enough, but once you try it you will find that it is easier said than done to keep that ball from rolling away. Using a ball will also improve coordination, balance, and flexibility. With the consistent use of a ball, you can start toning your body, which will most likely lead to weight loss.

Pilates rings also come from the original idea of Joseph Pilates who designed Pilates workouts. A Pilates ring is an elastic rubber ring that provides your workout with resistance. Since they are small enough to conveniently fit into a suitcase, Pilate rings are a wonderful idea for those who travel a great deal but want to maintain a regular exercise routine. York makes a good ring that is made of flexible plastic and a soft rubber shell. It has padded handles in the inside and outside for ease of gripping. A Pilates ring is most often used to tone the buttocks, the abs, and pelvic muscles. However, it can also be used to work specific muscles in the leg, pecs, lats, triceps and biceps. You just reposition the ring in either your arms or your legs according to which set of muscles you want to tone and then squeeze away. Be careful to follow proper form to prevent injury.

This gives you a general overview of some of the most popular Pilates exercise equipment used with Pilates workouts. Keep in mind that the Pilates machine and other equipment are not required since you can do all moves on a mat alone. However, as you advance they do come in handy to increase the resistance to keep furthering your improvement.

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